The Origins of Land-Grant Universities in American Agriculture The Morrill Act of 1862 and Its Impact In 1862, the United States passed the First Morrill Act, a historic piece of legislation that reshaped higher education in the country. This act laid the foundation for what became known as land-grant universities—institutions that received federal land to fund their establishment and operations. …
USDA Expands New World Screwworm Prevention—Here’s What Cattle Producers Can Do The USDA has begun implementing expanded efforts to combat the New World Screwworm (NWS), following an announcement from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins during a press conference held in Texas last week. With concerns rising about the pest’s potential spread, cattle producers across the country are asking: What …
USDA Reports 7.4% Increase in Peanut Acreage for 2025 Growing Season The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has released its final peanut acreage report for the 2025 growing season, based on grower reports submitted by July 15. The data shows a 7.4% increase in total U.S. peanut acres planted, with several key peanut-producing states reporting strong growth. “Alabama has got …
Pro Farmer Crop Tour Kicks Off Amid USDA Surprises; MAHA Report Brings Relief to Agriculture Well, I must start my report today wishing my wife Kathy a happy anniversary. It was a hot August day like this 52 years ago. “We said I do. A couple of Iowa farm kids, in fact, we had our reception on the Oppold farm. …
MAHA Report Draft Avoids Direct Action on Ultra-Processed Foods and Pesticides A new draft of the upcoming Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report, reviewed by the New York Times, reveals that it will not propose direct restrictions on ultra-processed foods and pesticides, despite earlier speculation that stricter recommendations were on the table. The development could be considered a relief for …
August WASDE Lowers U.S. Wheat Production Forecast, But Export Demand Remains Strong The August World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report brings mixed news for the wheat market. While domestic wheat production was revised downward, export demand is showing significant strength heading into the new marketing year. According to Mark Jekinowski, Chair of the World Agricultural Outlook Board, the …
Shorthorn Cattle and Early American Farms The Shorthorn breed holds a significant place in American agricultural history. As settlers pushed westward, Shorthorns became the most common cattle breed found on farms and ranches throughout the expanding frontier. Why Shorthorns Were a Pioneer Favorite The Shorthorn cattle were widely favored by early American farmers and ranchers for several key reasons: This …
USDA Forecasts Record Corn Crop for 2025, Soybean and Cotton Production Down The USDA’s Agricultural Statistics Service has released its highly anticipated crop production forecast for the upcoming year, offering a mixed outlook across major U.S. commodities. The headline news: a record-breaking corn crop is on the horizon. “On corn, corn production for grain is forecast at 16.7 billion bushels. …
U.S. Wheat Exports Forecast to Surge in 2025–2026, Led by Hard Red Winter Wheat The latest data from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service Export Sales Database shows a significant boost in U.S. wheat exports for the 2025–2026 marketing year, offering a positive outlook for American wheat producers and exporters. “U.S. wheat exports for 2025–2026 are forecast to increase by 25 …
Midwest State Fairs Wrap Up as Pro Farmer Crop Tour Kicks Off As summer reaches its final stretch, several Midwestern state fairs are coming to a close, while others are just getting started. “The Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois state fairs wrap up this weekend. Nebraska, Minnesota, and other fairs starting later this week.” State fairs have long served as …
